`Minikin`

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Forsythia named `Minikin` characterized by its small ultimate size, small narrow foliage, small flowers, slow and compact growth habit, excellent propagation from stem cuttings, hardiness, and its fine-textured overall appearance.

This invention relates to a new variety of Forsythia cv. "Minikin", which is characterized especially by the small size of its leaves, flowers, stems, and internodes, and by its overall small stature.

The new variety was derived as a seedling from a vegetative line of mutants, which had been produced in turn by subjecting rooted cuttings of the parent Forsythia intermedia "Lynwood Gold" (a sport of F. intermedia "Spectabilis") to irradiation with 1,200 rad fast neutrons.

In 1968, three hundred cuttings of "Lynwood Gold" that had been potted and held in cold storage (38° F.) for six weeks and then returned to the greenhouse for two days were irradiated with 1200 rad fast neutrons. One of the plants of this group that broke dormancy formed a shoot with variegated foliage. This plant was cut back repeatedly to induce branching and eventually formed shoots that exhibited different characteristics. Each shoot was propagated by stem cuttings over 10 vegetative generations of selection and propagation. From this plant population two vegetatively selected types and three seedlings were selected. Further propagation and testing of these selections over several more years were shown to be the stable and new forsythia varieties that are the subject of this and four other co-pending plant patent applications; viz:

    ______________________________________                                         Ser. No.   Name           Type                                                 ______________________________________                                         272,063    "Lemon-Screen" vegetative selection                                 273,489    "Tinkle Bells" vegetative selection                                 271,919    "Minikin"      seedling                                             271,665    "Fairy Land"   seedling                                             271,666    "Pygmy-Red"    seedling                                             ______________________________________                                    

Each differs greatly from the parent "Lynwood Gold" and also from one another.

"Minikin" was selected at the seedling stage because of its small and linear foliage and short internodes. Stem cuttings from this plant have been rooted in soil and asexually propagated, and its progeny have displayed homogeneous and stable characteristics.

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of the color as used in common speech are aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based on the R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the new variety in color as grown in Knox County within the State of Tennessee.

FIG. 1 illustrates "Minikin" as a 51/2 year old plant in bloom in March.

FIG. 2 shows flowered cut stems of "Minikin".

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the flowers of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates the "Minikin" plant in full summer foliage. The white flag is 2.5 inches wide.

FIG. 5 is a closer view of the foliage shown in FIG. 4. The white label is 0.6 inch wide and 5 inches long.

The following characteristics distinguish "Minikin" from its parent and other Forsythia cultivars:

THE PLANT

"Minikin" is an attractive, fine textured, densely foliated cultivar, especially suited for container culture; ultimate size of "Minikin" is 2 ft. to 21/2 ft. in height and 3 ft. to 4 ft. wide.

"Minikin" does not require the degree of winter protection required for most container grown genera. It is hardy in Zone 6b or lower. Because of its size and character, "Minikin" is suited for forcing into bloom before the normal flowering season and being sold as a potted floral plant which can be planted in a landscape later. The "Minikin" cultivar exhibits good vigor, but grows slowly. It requires no pruning to maintain its size and shape, except for cosmetic or rejuvenation purposes. It layers naturally and forms abundant seed pods. Its size and texture make it suitable for mass or ground cover use, or as a background plant for flower borders, as well as a specimen plant in a small garden or planter box.

Its parent, "Lynwood Gold", by contrast is tall and slender--a straight upright variety with erect stems and which attains a height of 6 ft. to 71/2 ft. at maturity.

FLOWER

The flowers of "Minikin" are small (1/2" to 3/4" in width) Yellow 9 A in color and there are two to four flowers per node. The "Minikin" flowers are fully reflexed (cup shaped), with four short, recurved petals. Corolla lobes are very small and strongly reflexed. The short pistils are 1/25 in. below the pollen sacs of the stamen. The flowering date is intermediate.

The "Lynwood Gold" parent is fertile and has pistils that extend well above its pollen sacs, is late flowering and its medium sized flowers (about 1" to 11/2" in diameter) are almost evenly spaced on the stem. The flowers of "Lynwood Gold" are brilliant yellow (lighter than its parent, F. Spectabilis). The corolla lobes of "Lynwood Gold" are reflexed and its petals are large, broad open and elliptic.

SHOOTS

The "Minikin" internodes on flowering shoots are only 1/4 in. to 3/4 in. long; and on vegetative shoots the internodes are up to 2 inches long.

"Minikin" stems are light green when young and brownish green when mature. Stems are ascending and strongly lamellate between nodes.

The stems of the "Lynwood Gold" parent are green when young and brown when mature; they are a bit stiff; the pith at the nodes is lamellate, and on one year shoots, the stems between nodes are hollow.

FOLIAGE

The leaves of Minikin are simple, lightly serrate and linear, being acuminate at the tip and attenuate at the base. Young and mature leaves vary from bright green to dark green and in the fall a faded green until leaf drop. Venation is pinnate. The leaf blades on vegetative shoots are only about 1/4 in. wide and 11/2 inches long, attached to a 1/2 in. long slender petiole; the leaves on flowering shoots are smaller.

The leaves of the "Lynwood Gold" parent, on the other hand, are ovate lanceolate in shape and about 3" to 41/2" long and about 1" to 11/2" wide. Both young and old leaves are deep green in color.

To facilitate the comparison of the characteristics and features of "Minikin", the subject of this application, and its parent, "Lynwood Gold" and also with the four other new mutant offspring varieties of "Lynwood Gold" referred to above, there are attached hereto as Tables 1-5 comparative tabulations of the characteristics and properties of parent and its five offspring mutants that were developed from a single irradiated plant of "Lynwood Gold." Table 1 compares "Minikin" and its parent "Lynwood Gold". Table 2 compares "Minikin" and "Pygmy-Red". Table 3 compares "Minikin" and "Tinkle Bells". Table 4 compares "Minikin" and "Lemon-Screen". Table 5 compares "Minikin" and "Fairy Land".

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Ser. No. 271,919                                                               ______________________________________                                                      MINIKIN                                                           ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit        Small stature, fine textured; small                                            leaves and small stems; densely                                                foliated                                                          Size, height 2'-21/2'                                                          Size, width  3'-4'                                                             Vigor        Good vigor but slow growth                                        Hardiness    Zone 6b (or lower)                                                Productivity Layers naturally                                                               Abundant seed pods                                                Stems or Shoots:                                                               Color (young)                                                                               Light green                                                       Color (mature)                                                                              Brownish green                                                    Rigidity     Ascending strongly                                                             lamellate between nodes                                           Leaves:                                                                        Type         Simple                                                            Color:                                                                         (young)      Bright green to dark green                                        (mature)     Bright green to dark green                                        (fall)       Fading green until leaf drop                                      Shape        Linear                                                            tip          Accuminate                                                        base         Attenuate                                                         margins      Lightly serrate                                                   Size:                                                                          length       On vegetative shoots-11/2" attached to                                         1/2" long slender petiole; smaller on                                          flowering shoots                                                  width        On vegetative shoots - 1/4";                                      Venation     Pinnate                                                           Flower:                                                                        Date of Flowering                                                                           Intermediate                                                      Size: width  1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped) fully reflexed                             Color:       Yellow (9A)                                                       Corolla: length                                                                lobes        strongly reflexed, very small                                     Petals: number                                                                              4: - short and recurved                                           Pistils:     Short; 1/25" below pollen                                                      sacs of stamens                                                   Number per node:                                                                            2-4                                                               Insertion angle                                                                on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:  Short (Flowering shoots 1/4-3/4"                                               Vegetative shoots up to 2")                                       Stress Resistance:                                                                          Doesn't require same degree of winter                                          protection as most container grown                                             plants of genre                                                   Utility Aspects:                                                                            Blooming can be forced. Especially                                             suited for container culture.                                     ______________________________________                                                      LYNWOOD GOLD                                                      ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit        Tall, slender-Upright                                                          straight & erect stems                                            Size, height 6'-71/2'                                                          Size, width                                                                    Vigor                                                                          Hardiness                                                                      Productivity Fertile                                                           Stems or Shoots:                                                               Color (young)                                                                               Green                                                             Color (mature)                                                                              Brown                                                             Rigidity     A bit stiff; pith nodes lamellate; hollow                                      between nodes on one year shoots                                  Leaves:                                                                        Type                                                                           Color:                                                                         (young)      Deep Green                                                        (mature)     Deep Green                                                        (fall)                                                                         Shape        ovate lanceolate                                                  tip                                                                            base                                                                           margins                                                                        Size:                                                                          length       3-41/2"                                                           width        1-11/2"                                                           Venation                                                                       Flower:                                                                        Date of Flowering                                                                           Late                                                              Size: width  1"-11/2" (medium)                                                 Color:       Brillant Yellow (lighter than its                                              parent Spectabilis)                                               Corolla: length                                                                lobes        Reflexed                                                          Petals: number                                                                              Large, broad, open                                                             Elliptic                                                          Pistils:     Extend well above pollen                                                       sacs (anthers) of stamens                                         Number per node:                                                               Insertion angle                                                                on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:  Flowers almost evenly spaced on stems                             Stress Resistance:                                                             Utility Aspects:                                                               ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                                        Ser. No. 271,919                                                               MINIKIN                                                         ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit          Small stature, fine textured; small                                            leaves and small stems; densely                                                foliated                                                        Size, height   2'-21/2'                                                        Size, width    3'-4'                                                           Vigor          Good vigor but slow growth                                      Hardiness      Zone 6b (or lower)                                              Productivity   Layers naturally                                                               Abundant seed pods                                              Stems or Shoots:                                                               Color (young)  Light green                                                     Color (mature) Brownish green                                                  Rigidity       Ascending strongly                                                             lamellate between nodes                                         Leaves:                                                                        Type           Simple                                                          Color:                                                                         (young)        Bright green to dark green                                      (mature)       Bright green to dark green                                      (fall)         Fading green until leaf drop                                    Shape          Linear                                                          tip            Accuminate                                                      base           Attenuate                                                       margins        Lightly serrate                                                 Size:                                                                          length         On vegetative shoots-11/2" attached                                            to 1/2" long slender petiole; smaller on                                       flowering shoots                                                width          On vegetative shoots - 1/4";                                    Venation       Pinnate                                                         Flower:                                                                        Date of Flowering                                                                             Intermediate                                                    Size: width    1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped) fully reflexed                           Color:         Yellow (9A)                                                     Corolla: length                                                                lobes          strongly reflexed, very small                                   Petals: number 4: - short and recurved                                         Pistils:       Short; 1/25" below pollen                                                      sacs of stamens                                                 Number per node:                                                                              2-4                                                             Insertion angle                                                                on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:    Short (Flowering shoots 1/4-3/4"                                               Vegetative shoots up to 2")                                     Stress Resistance:                                                                            Doesn't require same degree of winter                                          protection as most container grown                                             plants of genre                                                 Utility Aspects:                                                                              Blooming can be forced. Especially                                             suited for container culture.                                   ______________________________________                                                        Ser. No. 271,666                                                               PYGMY RED                                                       ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit          Low, loose graceful                                                            arching to ground                                               Size, height   31/2'-41/2'                                                     Size, width    5'-6'                                                           Vigor          Good vigor                                                      Hardiness      Hardy Zone 6b (or lower)                                        Productivity   Readily roots where branches                                                   touch ground few seed pods                                      Stems or Shoots:                                                               Color (young)  High anthocyanin                                                Color (mature) Purple Red (59A)                                                Rigidity       Flexible lamellate between nodes                                Leaves:                                                                        Type           Simple                                                          Color:                                                                         (young)        Dark Green                                                      (mature)       Dark Green                                                      (fall)         Anthocyanin (maroon) expressed                                                 in full sun                                                     Shape          Lanceolate (few lobed                                                          leaves on vegetative shoots)                                    tip            Accuminate                                                      base           Attenuate                                                       margins        Serrate                                                         Size:                                                                          length         2"-21/2" on flowering wood;                                                    to 23/4" on vegatative wood                                     width          0.3"-0.4" on flowering wood;                                                   to 1" on vegetative wood                                        Venation       Pinnate                                                         Flower:                                                                        Date of Flowering                                                                             Intermediate                                                    Size: width    11/4"-11/2 "                                                    Color:         Yellow (7A)                                                     Corolla: length                                                                lobes          Narrow                                                          Petals: number 4 - sometimes 5                                                 Pistils:       Extend 2/25"-3/25" above                                                       pollen sacs of stamens                                          Number per node:                                                                              2                                                               Insertion angle                                                                on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:    1"-11/2" (11/2" even on                                                        fast growning shoots)                                           Stress Resistance:                                                                            disease and insect                                              Utility Aspects:                                                               ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                                        Ser. No. 271,919                                                               MINIKIN                                                         ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit          Small stature, fine textured; small                                            leaves and small stems; densely                                                foliated                                                        Size, height   2'-21/2'                                                        Size, width    3'-4'                                                           Vigor          Good vigor but slow growth                                      Hardiness      Zone 6b (or lower)                                              Productivity   Layers naturally                                                               Abundant seed pods                                              Stems or Shoots:                                                               Color (young)  Light green                                                     Color (mature) Brownish green                                                  Rigidity       Ascending strongly                                                             lamellate between nodes                                         Leaves:                                                                        Type           Simple                                                          Color:                                                                         (young)        Bright green to dark green                                      (mature)       Bright green to dark green                                      (fall)         Fading green until leaf drop                                    Shape          Linear                                                          tip            Accuminate                                                      base           Attenuate                                                       margins        Lightly serrate                                                 Size:                                                                          length         On vegetative shoots-11/2" attached                                            to 1/2" long slender petiole; smaller on                                       flowering shoots                                                width          On vegetative shoots - 1/4";                                    Venation       Pinnate                                                         Flower:                                                                        Date of Flowering                                                                             Intermediate                                                    Size: width    1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped) fully reflexed                           Color:         Yellow (9A)                                                     Corolla: length                                                                lobes          strongly reflexed, very small                                   Petals: number 4: - short and recurved                                         Pistils:       Short; 1/25" below pollen                                                      sacs of stamens                                                 Number per node:                                                                              2-4                                                             Insertion angle                                                                on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:    Short (Flowering shoots 1/4-3/4"                                               Vegetative shoots up to 2")                                     Stress Resistance:                                                                            Doesn't require same degree of winter                                          protection as most container grown                                             plants of genre                                                 Utility Aspects:                                                                              Blooming can be forced. Especially                                             suited for container culture.                                   ______________________________________                                                        Ser. No. 273,489                                                               TINKLE BELLS                                                    ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit          Semi-dwarf; Upright                                             Size, height   4'-41/2'                                                        Size, width                                                                    Vigor          Medium vigor                                                    Hardiness      Hardy Zone 6b (or lower)                                        Productivity   Does not layer naturally (replicates                                           from stools (no seed pods observed)                             Stems or Shoots:                                                               Color (young)  Yellow Green                                                    Color (mature) Light brown                                                     Rigidity       Sparsely lamellate between                                                     nodes - Rigid                                                   Leaves:                                                                        Type           Simple                                                          Color:                                                                         (young)        Medium Green                                                    (mature)       Medium Green                                                    (fall)         Faded green to yellow                                           Shape          Elliptical                                                      tip            Acute on flower shoots                                                         accuminate on vegetative shoots                                 base                                                                           margins        serrate on upper 1/3 near tip                                   Size:                                                                          length         2"-3" (with petiole)                                            width          1/2"                                                            Venation       Pinnate                                                         Flower:                                                                        Date of Flowering                                                                             Early                                                           Size: width    1/2"-3/4" at 45° angle                                   Color:         Bright Yellow (7B)                                              Corolla: length                                                                               1/2" open to 45° angle                                   lobes          not reflexed during prime                                       Petals: number 4; occasionally 5 or 6                                          Pistils:       short: anthers slightly                                                        below stigma portion of pistil                                  Number per node:                                                                              2; often 4 per node                                             Insertion angle                                                                               buds & flowers pendulous                                        on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:    1/2"-11/2"                                                      Stress Resistance:                                                                            Disease and insect                                              Utility Aspects:                                                                              Can force flowering suitable                                                   for container culture                                           ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                                        Ser. No. 271,919                                                               MINIKIN                                                         ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit          Small stature, fine textured; small                                            leaves and small stems; densely                                                foliated                                                        Size, height   2'-21/2'                                                        Size, width    3'-4'                                                           Vigor          Good vigor but slow growth                                      Hardiness      Zone 6b (or lower)                                              Productivity   Layers naturally                                                               Abundant seed pods                                              Stems or Shoots:                                                               Color (young)  Light green                                                     Color (mature) Brownish green                                                  Rigidity       Ascending strongly                                                             lamellate between nodes                                         Leaves:                                                                        Type           Simple                                                          Color:                                                                         (young)        Bright green to dark green                                      (mature)       Bright green to dark green                                      (fall)         Fading green until leaf drop                                    Shape          Linear                                                          tip            Accuminate                                                      base           Attenuate                                                       margins        Lightly serrate                                                 Size:                                                                          length         On vegetative shoots-11/2" attached                                            to 1/2" long slender petiole; smaller on                                       flowering shoots                                                width          On vegetative shoots - 1/4";                                    Venation       Pinnate                                                         Flower:                                                                        Date of Flowering                                                                             Intermediate                                                    Size: width    1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped) fully reflexed                           Color:         Yellow (9A)                                                     Corolla: length                                                                lobes          strongly reflexed, very small                                   Petals: number 4: - short and recurved                                         Pistils:       Short; 1/25" below pollen                                                      sacs of stamens                                                 Number per node:                                                                              2-4                                                             Insertion angle                                                                on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:    Short (Flowering shoots 1/4-3/4"                                               Vegetative shoots up to 2")                                     Stress Resistance:                                                                            Doesn't require same degree of winter                                          protection as most container grown                                             plants of genre                                                 Utility Aspects:                                                                              Blooming can be forced. Especially                                             suited for container culture.                                   ______________________________________                                                        Ser. No. 272,063                                                               LEMON SCREEN                                                    ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit          Tall, open and graceful; Upright,                                              fan shape; vigorous; open                                                      foliage                                                         Size, height   Up to 10'                                                       Size, width    Hardy Zone 6b (or lower)                                        Vigor          Vigorous                                                        Hardiness                                                                      Productivity   Abundant Flowers/highly sterile/                                               pruned wood branches quickly                                    Stems or Shoots:                                                               Color (young)                                                                  Color (mature) Yellow                                                          Rigidity       Slightly lamellate between nodes                                Leaves:                                                                        Type           Simple                                                          Color:                                                                         (young)        Yellow green 151 B or Chartreuse                                               (appear after flowering)                                        (mature)       Normal green (Yellow-Green 144)                                                whitish blotches                                                (fall)         Greyed Purple 187 B                                             Shape                                                                          tip            Accuminate                                                      base           Attenuate                                                       margins        Serrate                                                         Size:                                                                          length         Not distinguishing                                              width          Not distinguishing                                              Venation       Pinnate                                                         Flower:                                                                        Date of Flowering                                                                             Early                                                           Size: width    11/2"-13/4"                                                     Color:         Yellow (6C)                                                     Corolla: length                                                                lobes          Somewhat reflexed                                               Petals: number 4, sometimes fasciated                                          Pistils:       aborted stamens &/or pistils                                    Number per node:                                                                              4 to 8                                                          Insertion angle                                                                on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:    1" to 2" long on flowering wood                                 Stress Resistance:                                                                            Summer foliage disease & insect                                                resistant                                                       Utility Aspects:                                                                              Summer pruning leads to shoot                                                  with chartreuse leaves (young)                                  ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                                        Ser. No. 271,919                                                               MINIKIN                                                         ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit          Small stature, fine textured; small                                            leaves and small stems; densely                                                foliated                                                        Size, height   2'-21/2'                                                        Size, width    3'-4'                                                           Vigor          Good vigor but slow growth                                      Hardiness      Zone 6b (or lower)                                              Productivity   Layers naturally                                                               Abundant seed pods                                              Stems or Shoots:                                                               Color (young)  Light green                                                     Color (mature) Brownish green                                                  Rigidity       Ascending strongly                                                             lamellate between nodes                                         Leaves:                                                                        Type           Simple                                                          Color:                                                                         (young)        Bright green to dark green                                      (mature)       Bright green to dark green                                      (fall)         Fading green until leaf drop                                    Shape          Linear                                                          tip            Accuminate                                                      base           Attenuate                                                       margins        Lightly serrate                                                 Size:                                                                          length         On vegetative shoots-11/2" attached to                                         1/2" long slender petiole; smaller on                                          flowering shoots                                                width          On vegetative shoots - 1/4";                                    Venation       Pinnate                                                         Flower:                                                                        Date of Flowering                                                                             Intermediate                                                    Size: width    1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped) fully reflexed                           Color:         Yellow (9A)                                                     Corolla: length                                                                lobes          strongly reflexed, very small                                   Petals: number 4: - short and recurved                                         Pistils:       Short; 1/25" below pollen                                                      sacs of stamens                                                 Number per node:                                                                              2-4                                                             Insertion angle                                                                on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:    Short (Flowering shoots 1/4-3/4"                                               Vegetative shoots up to 2")                                     Stress Resistance:                                                                            Doesn't require same degree of winter                                          protection as most container grown                                             plants of genre                                                 Utility Aspects:                                                                              Blooming can be forced. Especially                                             suited for container culture.                                   ______________________________________                                                        Ser. No. 271,665                                                               FAIRY LAND                                                      ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit          Small overall & fine textured:                                                 Closely spaced flowers & leaves                                                Dense (young) foliage                                           Size, height   3'-4'                                                           Size, width    5'-6'                                                           Vigor          Good vigor for size                                             Hardiness      Zone 6b (or lower)                                              Productivity   Few seed pods                                                   Stems or Shoots:                                                               Color (young)  Light green                                                     Color (mature) Brownish green                                                  Rigidity       Very flexible lamellate between                                                nodes                                                           Leaves:                                                                        Type           Simple                                                          Color:                                                                         (young)        Medium green (fairly light)                                     (mature)       Medium green (fairly light)                                     (fall)         Mostly faded yellow                                             Shape          Lanceolate                                                      tip            Accuminate                                                      base           Attenuate                                                       margins        On flowering wood; entire                                                      On vegetative wood: serrate top 1/3                             Size:                                                                          length         On flowering wood: 11/2"-21/2"                                                 On vegatative shoots: about 3"                                  width          On flowering wood: 0.2"-0.4"                                                   On vegatative shoots 0.5-0.6"                                   Venation       Pinnate                                                         Flower:                                                                        Date of Flowering                                                                             Intermediate                                                    Size: width    3/4"-11/4"                                                      Color:         Yellow (6A)                                                     Corolla: length                                                                lobes          Reflexed, small                                                 Petals: number Generally 4-many have 5, 6, 7 and                                              8 on single corolla                                             Pistils:       Extend 3/25" to 4/25" above pollen                                             sacs (anthers) of the stamen                                    Number per node:                                                                              2-4                                                             Insertion angle                                                                on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:    1/4" to about 1"                                                Stress Resistance:                                                             Utility Aspects:                                                                              Very well suited for                                                           container culture                                               ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Forsythia named `Minikin`, substantially as shown and described herein. 